Head of the Class
Melanie Oudin: Who would have predicted that a feisty, fist-pumping 17-year-old from Georgia would take charge of the 2009 U.S. Open? And yes, that's Georgia, U.S.A., not the republic that borders Russia. Oudin is the youngest player to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals since Serena Williams won it in 1999.
Sloane Stephens: As she began the junior tournament, the American junior showed character in dealing with the death of her estranged father, former running back John Stephens, and all the media attention that came with it. Best wishes to her and her family.
Whiz Kid
Flavia Pennetta: The Italian lost just six games in her first three matches, then fought off six match points against No. 7 Vera Zvonareva to reach the quarterfinals.
Most Improved
John Isner: A fitting award for one of the few pro players who went to college. Isner had a hot start to his professional career a few years ago, but only this season has he begun to put in the work necessary to succeed on the tour. Better late than never.
Prom King
Taylor Dent: The square-jawed American takes his place in Grandstand lore with a thrilling second-round win and a post-match party.
Prom Queen
Kim Clijsters: Everyone's favorite Belgian is back. She’s already taken down Venus, but can she beat both Williams sisters en route to the title?
Stood Up Again
Andy Roddick: Another five-set heartbreaker for the world No. 5.
Late Bloomer
Jesse Witten: Man who looks like a weekend softball hero enters U.S. Open qualifying, with a little advice from John McEnroe. He wins and wins and wins and suddenly, he's standing toe to toe with the No. 4 player in the world. Great to be Jesse Witten, wouldn't you say?
A's…As Usual
The Big Three: Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal haven't faced much opposition so far. Neither has Serena Williams. Will Nadal's abdominal injury be a factor in the second week?
Least Likely to Show at the Class Reunion
Marat Safin: Safin's last match at the U.S. Open was a downer. Then again, this entire season has been a dismal one for Safin, who will retire in November. He's counting the days.
Mad Professor
Zeljko Krajan: In Melbourne earlier this year, Krajan seemed to be just what Dinara Safina needed: An upbeat, patient, competent coach who could coax her out of bad moods and drive home key lessons in practice. Seven months later, Krajan looks to be the worst man for the job. As Safina misses, screams and struggles to hold serve, Krajan, seated in Safina's box, shakes his head, covers his face, shouts critical remarks, and even laughs ruefully. Safina can't be the easiest player to coach, but there must be someone who can take charge of her career without all the negative energy. Let's hope she finds that someone soon.
Low Profile
Juan Martin del Potro: The giant Argentine could very well win this tournament—and he still hasn't played a match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: This surface better suits Tsonga's game than the slower hard courts of Melbourne, where he reached the final in 2008. So far he hasn't lost a set.
The schoolyard bully…
Cablevision: If you're not sure which side to take in the Cablevision/Tennis Channel squabble that has denied tennis coverage to heaps of fans, know that you can't possibly support Cablevision. This is the company that destroyed the New York Knicks and recently exposed Long Island newspaper Newsday, a recent purchase, to embarrassment. I have personal gripes with them, too: What kind of company manages to be late for a repair appointment despite an obscene 10-hour window—yes, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.? (They arrived at 8:15 p.m.) If you're enjoying this U.S. Open a lot less than last year, let them know about it…
…But don't absolve Tennis Channel, either. The network does a fine job on its coverage and I think they're in the right on this one. Still, it would have been best to put principle aside this time and accept a designation on a sports tier that costs customers a few dollars more a month. Couldn't TC just pull the signal after the U.S. Open ended? Unfortunately, sometimes you have to give in for the good of the audience, which is losing out this year.
C+
ESPN: I have no qualms with the network’s coverage or crew. ESPN skips around from court to court; its analysts are first rate; and its broadcasts are always compelling. But it is too bad that tennis isn't important enough to the network's executives to merit evening coverage on Labor Day weekend. A lot of people missed a U.S. Open classic this weekend because ESPN has a stronger allegiance to college football. That shouldn't happen during the biggest tennis tournament in the United States.
Lost My Homework
Dinara Safina: After a year of consistent results, Safina's game suddenly looks creaky. Are we about to witness the rapid decline of another No. 1 woman?
U.S. Open schedulers: Last year, an unexpected five-setter starring Roger Federer pushed the day session into the night session. When a similar scenario occurred earlier this week with the Andy Roddick-John Isner five-setter, you would have thought it would make the USTA wary of inconveniencing night-session ticket-holders again. Wrong. And so Saturday evening's crowd had to wait three hours for their tennis and then choose between a men's match in Arthur Ashe and a women's match in Louis Armstrong. If I'm a night-session buyer, I'm pretty upset (conversely, Saturday's day session fans witnessed a phenomenal day of tennis). This shouldn't happen twice in a week when you have perfect weather and so many courts at your disposal; it’s too ambitious of the schedulers to slot two men’s matches and a women’s match for the day session.
Elena Dementieva: A fine summer goes for naught as the Best Player to Never Win a Major retains her title.
Repeat a Grade
Ana Ivanovic: Somewhere on the way down from No. 1 to journeywoman, Ana Ivanovic forgot how to serve. Is there a specialist in the house?
Expelled
The Crawl: I've watched little of the television coverage, but enough to reinforce my hatred of the running ticker on the bottom of the screen. ESPN uses it; CBS does not. I. Can't. Stand. It.
Final Answer?
After the Andy Roddick and Roger Federer classic from Wimbledon, don't you feel a little disappointed by the quick ending of Roddick-Isner? Time to reconsider the fifth-set tiebreak.
Quotes of the Week
After Melanie Oudin defeated Maria Sharapova Saturday, she was asked to shower and arrive for her press conference at 6:00 p.m. "It's already 6:00 o'clock?" she said to her mother. "What time did I go on?" Further proof that there is no time, no space—nothing to stop you—when you're in the zone.
Marat Safin on his retirement plans: "I'm ambitious. I want to achieve some things. I'm a different than another person who wants to lay back and do nothing for rest of the life and talk nonsense on ESPN, talk about my match against Sampras. I will not do that."
Tom Perrotta is a senior editor at TENNIS. Follow him on Twitter.
Isner is the latest player to deliver Roddick a crushing loss this summer. (Jim McIssac/Getty Images)